Felines are adorable irrespective of the breed. However, they possess different personality traits; a cool mix of negatives and positives. On that note, if you are considering adding a Ragdoll cat to your family, you should expect some behavioral problems. But on the brighter side, this breed is amazing.
Generally, Ragdolls are very good learners, which means you can easily train them. They also have a docile nature, incredible intelligence, and affectionate personality. They may have a floppy disposition, but do not be fooled. These cats are smart! You can visit holistapet to find a complete Ragdoll breed profile.
The major problems of a Ragdoll cat are its inability to protect itself, the way it sheds, its tracking ability, and others. If you want to know more, make sure you read through. We will also recommend a few parenting tips that will help you understand your raggie better.
Expected Ragdoll Behaviors and Parenting Tips
Below are some behaviors you should expect when bringing this breed home.
It Does Not Protect Itself
A Ragdoll is carefree and lacks the ability to protect itself. As a result, it should not go outside because it can’t defend itself if it runs into aggressive dogs or cats. So if you have other pets in your house, this is something you should consider before getting a raggie. Always observe the way the other pets treat the cat to be sure that it is safe around them.
To help your raggie, you can try the following:
- When you want to go out with the pet, ensure you keep it on a leash and harness. This will keep it safe and prevent it from running away.
- If you keep other pets at home and you discover that they aren’t getting along with your raggie, simply separate them. This will keep the cat safe when you’re not at home.
It Follows You Everywhere
This is basically like walking under your feet. At first, it may seem endearing but when the pet follows you everywhere all the time, it may become annoying. It could even be dangerous for the cat because you may step on it.
To solve this problem, try the following:
- Allow your raggie to go ahead of you. If you are climbing up your stairs, stand at the base and wait for the cat. When you are sure that it is upstairs, you can rest assured that you won’t step on it.
- If you want to carry a heavy item to another room, ensure your cat’s position is known to you. You need to train yourself to know when your cat is around you.
- You can use the spray bottle training method to reprimand your raggie. When you do this consistently, the cat will understand that what it is doing is not okay. You can click here to learn how to use this training method
It Demands Attention
Depending on your personality, this may not be a problem. The pet likes to sleep on its owner’s bed and when it is awake, you must get out of bed. When the feline is awake, it demands attention and food. Now, this could be problematic if you are not an early riser or you just want to get enough sleep before leaving for work.
Here’s what you can do:
- Close your door, so the cat will learn that you do not want it in your bedroom.
- Change to a nighttime feeding routine. This way, the pet won’t expect food very early in the morning.
It Explores and Tracks Things
A Ragdoll is not a typical plant cat, so it won’t jump into your plant pots. But you should be careful when choosing which plants to keep in your house and where you place them. This is because the pet is quite curious. It loves exploring and investigating things, which means that it may get into a heap of dirt, then track it through your apartment.
Below are some general fixes to consider.
- If you do not want your pet to jump into an item, do not leave it out. Store it away or out of your pet’s view.
- Keep dirt away from your pet and ensure the plants in your house will not harm the cat.
- Trim your pet’s undercarriage to reduce the tracking problem.
It Sheds in Clumps
Although this is not a behavioral problem, we need to mention it because it may piss you off. Unlike other animals that shed a few hairs all over your apartment, a Ragdoll sheds in clumps. The good thing about this trait is that you can easily spot the furs, but it could be frustrating. Here’s what you can do about it:
- Get a powerful vacuum cleaner.
- Brush the furs regularly and check for mats. If you catch a mat on time, you can cut it off or brush it out. You can check out https://www.petmd.com/cat/grooming/senior-cat-grooming-tips to get grooming tips for older cats.
- Keep your door closed if you do not want the cat to access your bedroom or other rooms. Sometimes, it may go into your room to get warmth from your duvet. In that case, try to keep your feline warm especially during winter.
Conclusion
A Ragdoll cat is awesome, but it has some behavioral issues. We discussed some of these issues and how you can handle them. We hope that the information is helpful.
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